More than a third of Scotland’s independent high street retailers are optimistic about the future of their local high street, according to research, despite recent high-profile retail chain closures and negative economic forecasts.

Research commissioned to launch the Government-run Great British High Street Awards 2018 revealed that 39 per cent of independent retailers in Scotland are feeling ‘optimistic’ or ‘very optimistic’ about the future. A quarter said their high street is ‘improving’ or ‘vastly improving’.

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The findings also show that being part of a local community and building relationships with customers are what Scottish retailers enjoy most about running their business.

But the view from shoppers is less positive, with 76 per cent describing their high street as ‘staying the same’ or ‘getting worse’ and 22 per cent claiming there are not enough shops and services on it to meet their needs.

And two thirds said they feel ‘neutral’ or ‘not very optimistic’ about the future of their high street – despite almost three quarters of Scottish consumers visiting their local high street at least once a week, with more than one in 10 visiting every day.

Almost eight in ten of people across Scotland would miss their local high street if it no longer existed. Some 84 per cent believe it is the people they meet there, in terms of both shoppers and retailers, that make it what it is.

The Great British High Street Awards 2018, which are being run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises local achievements on high streets and aims to “support the communities in which we live and work”.

The initiative includes a competition to find the nation’s best high streets, with winners being named in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, across two categories: the Champion and Rising Star awards. An overall winner will also be named.

Author and TV presenter Simon Reeve will be a judge for the Great British High Street Awards 2018.

Communities Secretary Rt Hon. James Brokenshire MP said: "The Great British High Street Awards acknowledge in a very important way how high streets are so vital to our nation. High streets are crucial in creating jobs, nurturing small businesses and driving local and regional economies. We want to celebrate the best examples of high streets, as well as those individual businessmen and women playing a leading role.